Cooke & Arkwright

News

R.I.P. HIPs

20/05/2010

Home Information Packs are to be suspended from 21st May 2010, pending primary legislation for a permanent abolition, the coalition government has announced. All that will be required from sellers from that date will be the Energy Performance Certificate, which must be produced by the seller within 28 days of putting a home on the market.

The HIPs were intended to speed up the home buying process and contained information about the property, title deeds and local searches. However, most of those working in the house sales industry had viewed the packs, which could cost up to £400, as largely pointless. The news that they were to be suspended with immediate effect was welcomed by Francesca Tanguy, Associate Director in charge of Residential. “This is very good news indeed,” she said. “HIPs were a complete and utter waste of time. This is a victory for common sense.”